434 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



TUNIS. 



In answer to Department's circular relative to the fabrication of 

 and commerce in paper in Tunis, I should be glad to answer the 

 questions transmitted in a way that might lead to the establishment 

 of trade, but I regret to say that at the present moment business is in 

 an unsettled condition. 



POPULATION. 



A regular census of the population of the regency has never been 

 made. Private estimates vary widely, but the general impression 

 is that the present population does not surpass 1,500,000 inhabitants, 

 of whom 1,400,000 are Arabs, 60,000 are Jews, and 40,000 are Chris- 

 tians. It is thought that the number of lettered men (women do 

 not read) does not reach 10 per cent of the male population of the 

 country. 



There are no manufacturers of paper of any sort in Tunis, and 

 the people show no mechanical disposition. 



CONSUMPTION. 



Paper is used in Tunis for packing and wrapping goods, for daily 

 papers and advertisements, for printing and private offices, for cor- 

 respondence, etc., but I do not know of any industry especially 

 requiring it. French importations of paper are received free; the 

 foreign ones have to pay 8 per cent ad valorem. The following are 

 most used, the prices being given per 100 kilograms (220.46 pounds) : 



White printing paper, divers sizes (f. o. b. Tunis), 30 francs 

 ($5.79) ; letter paper, from 90 to no francs ($17.37 to $ 2I - 2 3), accord- 

 ing to quality (f. o. b, Tunis) ; advertising paper, glazed on one side 

 only, 50 francs ($9.65); colored paper, glazed on both sides, 50 to 60 

 francs ($9.65 to $11.58); account books, 90 to 100 francs ($17.37 to 

 $19.30), according to quality; parchment, 75 francs ($14.48), in sev- 

 eral colors; ledger paper, 38 to 40 francs ($7.33 to $7.72), according 

 to quality; blue goudron (tarred), 50 francs ($9.65); ordinary gou- 

 dron (tarred), 40 to 45 francs ($7.72 to $8.69). 



I have procured these prices from a printer on whose honesty I 

 can rely; but I believe that the prices are for retail, as he can not 

 buy large quantities at a time. 



The paper trade is not developed enough here to constitute a 

 special commerce. The more important quantities used by the 

 daily papers are imported direct from France by the managers. 



There are about 10 printers in Tunis, about 2 at Susa, 2 at Sfax, 

 and i at Bizerta. Publishers have not succeeded as yet, on account 



